Following up on my post from earlier this week, it looks like bar exam takers in Arizona now may bring menstrual products into the test with them. Late yesterday, without explanation, the Arizona bar examiners notified exam takers that "feminine products" can be brought into the exam in a clear plastic bag, a policy that is sensible and in keeping with most states' practices.
Before Arizona announced its policy change, Liz Sepper (Wash U St. Louis) had the Twitter win with this post:
Professor Cat Moon (Vanderbilt) is continuing to track state policies here.
Eyes now turn to West Virginia. It looks like the Mountain State does not allow bar exam takers to bring menstrual products with them to the test. (See FAQs here.) Instead, the bar examiners "provide them." Provide them where? To whom? What if they run out? What if the products aren't the kind a person needs/is able to use? Let's hope that the five WV Justices -- Elizabeth "Beth" D. Walker (the first WV justice elected in a non-partisan race), Margaret L. Workman, Tim Armstead, Evan H. Jenkins and John A. Hutchison--can get together quickly and sort this out before (if?) the bar exam goes forward on July 28.
In Texas, the rules on menstrual products for bar exam takers are less clear. The Texas guidance say (here) that "feminine products" are "provided" (along with foam ear plugs and tissues). "Permitted" items like keys, cash and credit cards may be brought into the exam in a clear plastic bag. Menstrual products are not on the list of permitted items. They are not on the list of prohibited items (e.g., calculators, cameras) either. Texas bar examiners, do the right thing and clarify that menstrual products are "permitted" items.
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